Improved life-preserving seat



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IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING SEAT.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Be it known that I, HENRY MATTHEWS, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented a new and Improved Life Preserver, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a life preserver so that it may, with the least inconvenience, be arranged on ferry-boats andother vessels, and so that it may not be lost or stolen. For this purpose I 'make a combined life preserver and stool, which is secured on the {lcor of a cabin, either by screws or in any other suitable manner, so as to be easily detached when required. The device is used for a seat, and a number thereot1 may be arranged in rows or otherwise, in cabins of boats, similar tothe manner in which seats are now arranged. Whenrequired thc stool is detached from the i'loor ofthe cabin, and is used as a life preserver. In the accompanying drawing, which represents a side elevation, partly in section, of' my improved life preservcr, the invention is clearly illustrated. l

The stool A consists of an upper board or plate, a, and of a hollow or tubular support, l1. The upper plate or seat L may be made of any suitable material, and may be upholstered or cushioned, or otherwise improved, as may be desired. The support b may be made of sheet metal or of any other suitable material, and is made so as to enclose an air-tight chamber. It may, as shown, be made of one single chamber, or, if desired, two or more tubular air-tight supports may be arranged below the seat. In the latter case the supports would have to be connected at the bottom by a cast-iron or other ring, or in any other suitable manner. c is a.

screw, which is secured to thc floor of the cabin or chamber in which the seat is to be set up, and fits into a nut, d, arranged either in the ring e, at the bottom of the support 0r supports, or secured to them in any other suitable manner. Thus the whole device may be screwed on the floor without much trouble, and beheld thereon securely,so as to be used as a seat. A series of these may be placed between dividing bars,f,as shown. When required, these seats may he easily unfastened and used as life preservers. To the support or supports may be attached loops, g, for holding the necessary straps, when the apparatus is used as a life preserver. The manner of securing the device to the floor may be varied, and I do not confine the use of the apparatus to any particular method.

I claim as new, and desireto secure 'by Letters Iatcnt- The ring e, in combination with the hollow chamber b, having seat a and loops g, substantially asdescribed -fo'r the purpose specied.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 16th day of January, 1867.

` HENRY MATTHEWS.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAiuAnA, ALEX. F. Renners. 

